US police break up Lego theft ring, recovering hundreds of beheaded figurines

CALIFORNIA – When detectives from the Santa Rosa Police Department arrived at a house in Lake County, California, on Oct 13, they discovered what looked like a Lego crime scene.

Plastic figurines were everywhere, their heads removed from their bodies and organised in neat rows by facial expression.

Tubs and bins brimmed with loose pieces – tens of thousands of them, according to police – and were scattered across desks in the living room.

Unopened sets lined the hallway floors.

An investigation that began in September culminated in the arrest of Robert Lopez, 39. The police said in a statement Oct 15 that Lopez had stolen more US$6,000 (S$7,770) worth of the popular toys.

“Lopez was directing others to steal expensive Lego sets and purchasing the stolen property at a reduced price to turn around and resell the sets or individual mini figurines at inflated prices,” the police said.

It was not immediately clear who was buying from Lopez. On Oct 17, the investigation was still ongoing “to identify others involved and locate the retailers from where the Legos were stolen”, said Sergeant Patricia Seffens of the police department.

Lopez was charged with, among other things, organised retail theft and conspiracy to commit a felony. Under Californian law, those convicted of a felony of organised retail theft can face up to three years in prison.

It was not immediately clear whether Lopez had a lawyer.

The police said that when they visited Lopez’s garage, it had about 100 assembled mini figures displayed on shelves, along with unopened sets and broken-down packaging.

“The scene suggested systematic sorting and potential resale activity, consistent with fencing operations involving high-demand collectible items,” the police said.

Lego sets can cost from US$4.99 to nearly US$1,000, according to the company’s website.

The company has a long history of selling limited-edition, collectible items and packages that can resell for much higher than their retail price.

Some Lego products can increase in value by 10 per cent a year, said Mr Will Jensen, chief operating officer of brickLAB, a family-owned toy store in Frisco, Texas, that buys and sells Lego products.

“This isn’t surprising,” he said of the drastic increase in value of Lego products.

“Legos are collectibles like baseball or Pokemon cards or art.”

Earlier in 2025, the Lego San Diego Comic-Con 2013 Spider-Man figurine was valued at more than US$15,000 on the second-hand market.

The sale of stolen Lego collectible figurines is a growing concern because of “their high resale value, popularity among collectors, and ease of concealment”, the Santa Rosa police said.

“These items are often targeted because they’re small, untraceable and in high demand, making them ideal for quick resale through online marketplaces or informal channels,” police said.

The toys have been a popular item for thieves to snag off shelves in retail stores.

In California, burglars stole more than US$100,000 worth of Lego kits and accessories at Lego retailer Bricks & Minifigs in 2024.

Retail theft and organised retail theft in California has been on the rise in recent years, according to police and government figures.

From 2014 through 2023, reported retail theft increased by about 11 per cent in California, according to a June report by the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office.

It is hard to say how often theft rings like this are formed.

“The number of cases where a theft-related crime occurs at a retail business, specifically, is not tracked,” said Ms Caitlin O’Neil, a principal fiscal and policy analyst at that office.

“This is because statewide crime statistics are generally not tracked by the type of victim.”

Police said they had partnered with Walmart and Target to investigate the Lego thefts.

“Our collaboration with law enforcement in combating organised retail crime is critical in fulfilling our mission of helping people save money and live better,” a Walmart spokesperson said.

A representative of Target was unavailable to comment on Oct 17.

In addition to the toys, police said they had found several weapons inside a safe in Lopez’s residence, including a shotgun and a loaded assault rifle. NYTIMES